Titre du document / Document title

Effects of age on DNA double-strand breaks and apoptosis in human sperm

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

(1) University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, ETATS-UNIS

Résumé / Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to explore the relationship between men's age and DNA damage and apoptosis in human spermatozoa. Design: Semen samples were collected from men between the ages of 20 and 57 years. Sperm DNA double-strand breaks were assessed using the neutral microgel electrophoresis (comet) assay, and apoptosis was estimated using the DNA diffusion assay. Setting: Academic medical center. Patient(s): Sixty-six men aged 20 to 57 years were recruited from infertility laboratory and general populations and consented to donate a semen sample. Recruitment was determined by time and day of analysis; the only exclusions were for azoospermia, prostatitis, or prior cancer therapy. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): DNA damage and apoptosis in human sperm. Result(s): Age correlated with an increasing percentage of sperm with highly damaged DNA (range: 0-83%) and tended to inversely correlate with percentage of apoptotic sperm (range: 0.3%-23%). For example, percentage of sperm with highly damaged DNA, comet extent, DNA break number, and other comet measures was statistically significantly higher in men aged 36-57 years than in those aged 20-35 years, but percentage apoptosis was statistically significantly lower in the older group. Semen analysis showed percentage motility to be significantly higher in younger age groups. Conclusion(s): This study clearly demonstrates an increase in sperm double-stranded DNA breaks with age. Our findings also suggest for the first time an age-related decrease in human sperm apoptosis. These novel findings may indicate deterioration of healthy sperm cell selection process with age.